Chapter 1227 – Preparing for Battle, Restoring Vitality (6)
Han Yu sought Mr. Yuanjing’s permission and picked up several assignments to scrutinize, growing increasingly shocked as he read on.
“This—”
Mr. Yuanjing sighed, “I have long admired the sage’s idea of ‘teaching without class’ and ‘teaching according to ability,’ reminding myself to stay diligent. However, with limited strength and energy, no matter how grand my ambitions, I cannot match the sage’s realm—”
Mr. Yuanjing championed universal education. What does “teaching without class” mean?
In simple terms, it means anyone can receive an education, regardless of whether they are wise, foolish, virtuous, or unworthy, they can eliminate their differences through education. This aspiration and ideal are beautiful, but the reality is quite painful.
Yuanjing is but one person, with just one mouth and two hands, and his lifespan is limited to that of an ordinary person.
Even if he is devoted to education, the number of students he can teach is limited, let alone enlighten the masses.
Because it is limited, Mr. Yuanjing’s “teaching without class” inadvertently leans towards elite education, unconsciously tilting resources toward the smarter students.
Mr. Yuanjing was not blind to this fact, but he felt powerless to change the situation.
This problem had troubled him until he arrived in Wanzhou, when he finally understood the crux of the issue.
It’s not about scarcity, but about inequality!
Due to the extreme scarcity of educational resources, the limited resources tilt toward the exceptionally talented students, maximizing benefits.
Mr. Yuanjing made a bold hypothesis: What if educational resources could expand to the point of surplus?
Then every student could have access to sufficient educational resources.
With this premise, “teaching without class” could truly be realized, and even further achieve the realm of “teaching according to ability.”
Han Yu, shaken, set down the student assignments, quietly calming his turbulent emotions.
Even with limited knowledge of the academy, he understood that most students came from common backgrounds without a solid foundation or conditions for learning.
As for talent?
A few might be geniuses, but not everyone could be one.
Yet, these students had quite decent homework.
“How many students are currently enrolled at Golden Scales Academy?” Han Yu asked.
Mr. Yuanjing replied, “Currently, there are two batches of students, and the third batch is still being selected. There are a total of three hundred fifty-six enrolled students.”
Han Yu asked again, “How are their academic results?”
Mr. Yuanjing smiled and said, “Though they are not as good as Feng Yi and the others, they are not inferior to their peers in aristocratic families.”
“And their talents?”
“Most are average, but they have the virtue of being diligent and eager to learn.”
Hearing this, Han Yu couldn’t help but take a deep breath.
How long has it been since Golden Scales Academy was established?
Now it has already taken in two batches of students, totaling three hundred fifty-six!
Their learning progress and depth are not at all inferior to those in the aristocratic familial education, which is quite terrifying.
These students start their enlightenment so late, have such weak foundations, and are of average talent—yet even if they pulled all-nighters, they could hardly keep up with the curriculum of aristocratic families! Keep in mind, the children of the noble families typically begin their education at the age of three!
Golden Scales Academy’s students are four or five years late!
Being late by four or five years and still managing to keep up with their progress is incredibly alarming!
If it’s not a talent issue, then it must be about the methods of learning and the educational system.
Han Yu keenly recognized the core issue.
What exactly makes Golden Scales Academy so special?
Unable to suppress his curiosity, he voiced his doubts, and Mr. Yuanjing smiled without answering, rising to retrieve an exceptionally thick dossier.
The dossier was as thick as a knuckle, filled with written characters on rice paper, all penned by Mr. Yuanjing himself.
Some characters were very neat, some more casual, while others appeared hurried and sloppy, clearly written in a rush.
Han Yu flipped through it carefully and discovered that this booklet was, in essence, the “History of the Growth of Golden Scales Academy,” with every reform meticulously recorded. Students are grouped by age and learning progress, the curriculum systematically classified, and each student’s daily schedule is carefully planned. Different classes learn different subjects at the same time, maximizing the Teacher’s instructional time.
The subjects taught to the students are from simple to complex. Even more impressive is the “New Rhyme of Chinese,” which greatly lowers the entry barriers for learning!
While educational demands can be quite severe, they are indeed clearer and more straightforward than that of noble familial schools, and the efficiency of the two cannot even be compared.
Any well-established noble family has its own academy for the offspring to receive enlightenment, but these are strictly for family members, ensuring that only clan members can benefit from these resources. Although a family school sounds prestigious, it’s really not much different from a private school.
A group of students from the same family stays together, regardless of age or learning pace.
The Teacher gives unified instruction, occasionally offering one-on-one guidance.
This leads to quicker students dragging behind, while those with a weak foundation struggle to keep pace, making inefficiency inevitable.
Families with resources could forgo the family school and hire a prominent scholar or renown figure for one-on-one teaching at home.
While this guarantees learning efficiency, quality, and pace, it causes a waste of educational resources.
A single Teacher could educate more students, but instead, one student monopolizes the teaching, leaving others neglected.
Isn’t that a waste?
This is what we call ineffective overflow of educational resources!
The booklet written by Mr. Yuanjing, rather than being mere notes, is more a new, organized system!
It strives to balance teaching resources and students, ensuring learning efficiency, quality, and progress while benefiting more students.
As Han Yu turned the pages, he witnessed the evolution of Golden Scales Academy’s system from its inception to gradual perfection.
Mr. Yuanjing’s improvements weren’t born from flights of fancy or idealistic imaginings, but rather grounded in current realities.
Seeing Mr. Yuanjing carefully and systematically plotting his plans, Han Yu felt even more ashamed of his own naïveté and frivolity in pursuing the “Dao.”
Had it not been for Jiang Pengji’s awakening, he might have gotten lost in his misguided notions.
“Master truly is a talent of this age; I can only seek to emulate you.”
Mr. Yuanjing replied seriously, “The establishment of Golden Scales Academy, from nothing to something, is a testament to my efforts and those of several other eminent scholars. It could not have been completed by one person’s strength alone. Without the support of Lord Lan Ting and the hard work of those children, today’s achievements wouldn’t have been possible.”
Mr. Yuanjing’s contributions were significant, but they were not the largest, nor solely his merit.
Realizing his slip of the tongue, Han Yu quickly offered a sincere apology.
“Does Master have high hopes for the Lord?” Han Yu noted Mr. Yuanjing’s respectful reference to Jiang Pengji.
“I hope she will be,” Mr. Yuanjing gazed at the pile of student assignments, sighing, “She is a remarkable person and might lead this world down another glorious path. I see hope in her! If only I could live a few more years to witness a true flourishing era.”
